Vibrator mechanism



Oct. 25, 1966 w, E ET AL 3,281,125

VIBRATOR MECHANISM Filed Oct. 21, 1965 United States Patent M 3,281,125VIBRATOR MECHANISM Theodore W. Shoe, Troy, and Mark .1. Wise, Dayton,Ohio, assignors to The Flexicore Co., Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporationof New York Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 500,012 4 Claims. (Cl. 259-72)This invention relates to a vibrator mechanism and particularly to amechanism which is normally disposed beneath a form in which concreteproducts are being cast. The vibrator mechanism is particularly usefulfor casting forms of the type in which long concrete slabs are cast.

Vibrators in connection with concrete casting means are wide-1y used.Such vibrators perform a number of functions among which aredistributing and compacting a concrete mix throughout a casting form,expelling air bubbles and the like. Vibrators used for such purposesfunction to convert substantial power into vibrations ranging from about1,000 cycles per minute up to as much as 8,000 cycles per minute and, insome cases, even more. As a rule, the amplitude of vibration is of theorder of about of an inch.

The power level at which such devices generally operate, together withthe amplitude, results in creation of such high stresses in the vibratormechanism as to reduce substantially the normal operating life of suchvibrators or important components thereof. A further and serious problemis created by the transmission of vibratory energy from the vibratormechanism to supporting and foundation structures and adjacentstructures. Such undesired vibration not only represents a waste ofvibratory energy, since such energy is only desired for the casting formand its contents, but also induces and creates undesired stresses andstrains in such adjacent and supporting struc tures and thus tends toreduce the life of such structures.

Because of the above characteristics of such vibrator mechanism, it hasbeen necessary to weld or integrate metal (or steel) parts which arenormally made or manufactured separately. In general, it is desirable touse steel in the form of cold, rolled strip or bars as against cast ironor cast steel. develops cracks in the metal. The use of cold rolledsteel thus entails welding various parts together. It is important inconnection with such welds that the welds are strong and withstand thevibration present in such mechanisms.

In addition to the above, vibrators of this general character frequencyinclude as parts thereof heavy springs. To accommodate the latter, thevibrator mechanism requires metal clamps and other metal parts foranchoring such springs. Such various metal parts must be welded. Aconventional vibrator mechanism thus involves a relatively large numberof welds and provides a fertile field for fractures to develop.

An additional disadvantage of such conventional mechanisms resides inthe fact that the head room for the mechanism between the floor or othersupport and the bottom of the casing from or load is quite substantial.The greater the head room required, the more difiicult becomes theproblem of insuring that the various component parts of the mechanismare not overstressed.

The present invention makes possible a vibrator mechanism wherein thenumber of separate parts required is reduced to a minimum and whereinthe necessity for welds is reduced even further than would normally bewarranted by the reduction in the number of parts. In addition to theabove, the invention makes possible a vibrator mechanism whereinefiective and efiicient vibra- The latter material generally 3,281,125Patented Oct. 25 1966 tory isolation is provided to prevent undesiredtransmission of vibratory energy to foundations and adjacent structures.A further advantage of the new structure embodied in the presentinvention resides in the compact and comparatively short overallstructure which is rendered possible and thus permits of a comparativelylow support plane for the vibrator load.

The invention involves a heavy steel vibrator plate which is supportedat a number of places on heavy rubber or other resilient elasticmaterial which functions not only to support the vibrator plate but alsoto shield or isolate the support plate from the basic vibrator frameupon which the entire vibrator frame is carried. Directly supportedbelow such vibrator plate is a shaft carrying unbalanced weights whichcreates the desired vibratory energy. The last named shaft is connectedthrough a pulley and belt to an electric motor or other source of power.

By virtue of the structure generally set forth above, very short pathsfor transmitting vibratory energy to the vibrator plate are provided. Asmany vibration absorbing support means as desired for the vibrator platecan be provided to effectively suppress the leakage of vibratory energyaway from the vibrator plate and downwardly to the general vibratorsupport structure. The vibrator plate itself is adapted to carry theload to be vibrated.

An additional substantial advantage of the new structure resides in theready accessibility of bearings for supporting the shaft. This featureis highly desirable since bearings in such vibrator mechanism mustfrequently be renewed.

For a more complete description of the invention reference is now madeto the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the vibrators employing thepresent invention, this view illustrating in dotted line a part of acasting form disposed thereon.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vibrator mechanism of FIG. 1 wherein thevibrator plate is broken away to illustrate the vibrator mechanismstructure.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4r-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

The new vibrator mechanism has base supporting plate 10 of any desiredshape and size. Base plate 10 is of steel and should be suificientlythick for the required purpose. As an example, forms for castingconcrete slabs having a width of the order of 2 or 3 feet and a lengthranging up to as much as 50 or 60 feet and having a depth or thicknessof the order of about 10 or 12 inches are very heavy so that base plate10 in such a case may be as much as A" or 1 in thickness. The remainingdimensions of such a base plate would be about 3 feet by about 2 feet or2 /2 feet. These dimensions are exemplary and the invention is notlimited thereto. As a rule, vibrators are disposed at about 10 footintervals along a casting form.

Rigidly secured to the top of base plate 10 are end plates 12 and 13extending parallel to ends 14 and 15 of base plate 10 and set inwardlytherefrom a short distance. Supported on base plate 10 and rigidlysecured thereto are additional plates 16 and 17. Additional plates 16and 17 extend outwardly from the outer face of said plate 12 andcooperate therewith to provide a firm support structure.

End plate 13 is similarly provided with additional plates 18 and 19.Rigidly secured to the top edges of side plate 12 and additional plates16 and 17 is one connecting plate 23. A second connecting plate 24 isprovided for the top edges of plates 13, 18 and 19. It is understoodthat these various plates are of steel and of suitable thickness.

The thickness of the various plates may be of the order of about /2" orThese plates are preferably welded together to form a rigid strongsupport structure. For a vibrator mechanism to be used with a castingform having the dimensions as described above, the height of theframework thus formed may be of the order of about one foot. Thissupport frame is bolted to a floor by bolts passing through apertures atthe four corners of base plate 10. The support structure so fardescribed is reinforced by support plate 28 extending between sideplates 12 and 13 rigidly secured thereto as by welding. Support plate 28is disposed substantially midway between side plates 12 and 13 and has asubstantial portion of the plate between the edges undercut at 29 toclear the vibration generating means.

Top plates 23 and 24 are each provided with apertures at each endthereof. The location of these apertures is illustrated in FIG. 2together with the support structure. The construction for supporting theremainder of the mechanism is similar insofar as the corners areconcerned and accordingly the structure illustrated in FIG. will bedescribed in detail as representative. Thus, support plate 24 isapertured at 30 adjacent an end thereof for accommodating reduced end 31of pin 32. Reduced end 31 of pin 32 provides an annular shoulder 33which rests upon the top surface of cross-plate 24. Resting on top ofcross-plate 24 and surrounding a part of enlarged portion 32 of the pinis thick washer 34.

Washer 34 has a diameter which is about equal to the width ofcross-plate 24- and fits snugly about the enlarged portion of pin 32.Washer 34 is rigidly secured by welding to cross-plate 24. The thicknessof washer 34 may, as an example, be of the order of about /2 or evensomewhat greater. Inasmuch as no great precision is required in themanufacture of the vibrator mechanism, the diameter given here is on thegenerous side. Pin 32 extends upwardly above the top of washer 34 andfunctions as a guide to hold in position heavy rubber washer 36. Thediameter of washer 36 is somewhat greater than the diameter of washer 34and the thickness of rubber washer 36 is substantially greater thanwasher 34. As an example, the rubber washer 36 may have a thickness ofthe order of about 1 /2" to about 2" and, in any event, the thickness ofwasher 36 is sulfliciently great so that the top of pin 32 will besubstantially below the level of top surface 38 of the rubber washer.

.The difference in elevation between the top surface of rubber member 36and the top of pin 32 should be well beyond the amplitude of vibrationto be generated and may, for example, be about A in the specificstructure described as an example of the embodiment of the invention.Rubber washer 36 is of solid rubber of the type used for mountingpresses and may have a hardness of between about 55 and about 60 on thedurometer scale. Such rubber is used widely in absorbing the shock ofpunch presses and similar mechanisms and this grade of rubber isgenerally known in the trade as press rubber.

Resting on top of rubber member 36 and forming an inverted cup shapedshield is member 40 having depending skirt portion 41 surrounding theouter face of rubber member 36 and extending downwardly below the bottomface of rubber member 36. Skirt portion 41 is sufiiciently larger indiameter so that it clears the outer face if washer 34. The space belowskirt 41 should be clear for a sufiicient distance to accommodate easilythe amplitude of vibration to be encountered. Member 40 has pin portion43 extending above the body thereof and this pin portion is adapted tolie within aperture 45 of one corner of vibration plate 50. Vibrationplate 50 has apertures adjacent the four corners thereof which areadapted to register with the support assembly illustrated and describedin connection with FIG. 5.

Pin portion 43 has a diameter which is substantially greater than thatof shouldered pin portion 32 and fits loosely in apertures 45.

Vibration plate 50 is of steel and has substantial thickness of theorder of about 1" for the particular size mechanism that has been setforth. Vibration plate 50 has steel strips 51 and 52 rigidly securedthere to as by welding. Strips 51 and 52 are disposed along oppositesides of plate 50 and preferably along the long dimension of the plate.The ends of each of strips 51 and 52 have blocks 54 to 57 inclusiverigidly anchored thereto. The distance between the blocks on strip 51 issubstantially the width of a casting form shown in dotted line inFIG. 1. The same is true of the distance between block 56 and 57 alongstrip 52. Thus, the bottom of a castings form will rest upon strips 51and 52 and be firmly wedged between the blocks at the ends of thesestrips.

Means for creating vibration in plate 50 are suspended from this platebelow the lower face. Thus, bolted to and suspended from plate 50substantially midway between end plates 12 and 13 is shaft 60 journalledin bearings 61 and 62. Shaft 60 has an end portion projecting beyondbearing 62 carrying pulley 64. Pulley 64 is belt driven from anindependently mounted motor not shown. Shaft 60 has rigidly securedthereto eccentric Weights 66 and 67. As illustrated in FIG. 3, weights66 and 67 are oriented so that the eccentric portions thereof arealigned insofar as rotary position is concerned.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibrator mechanism for use on forms for casting concrete slabs,said mechanism comprising a rigid steel base plate, a plurality ofupstanding steel supports rigidly secured to said base plate and forminga rigid support structure, said support structure having at the topthereof a plurality of apertured steel plate portions, a vertical steelpin for each aperture, each pin having a guide portion extending abovethe top of said support structure, a heavy washer of non-metallicelastic vibration absorbing material disposed about the guide portion ofeach pin and resting on top of the support structure, an inverted cupshaped steel member disposed over the top of said heavy washer, saidinverted cup shaped member having an upwardly extending pin portion, asteel vibrator plate disposed over the support structure, said vibratorplate having apertures each of which registers with the upwardlyextending last named pin portion, means on the top face of said vibratorplate for retaining a casting form against lateral movement in normalvibrating position and means supported from the bottom of said vibratorplate for creating vibrations in said plate, said heavy washers servingto substantially suppress the transmission of vibratory energy to thesupport structure.

2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said vibration creatingmeans includes a shaft journalled in bearings below said vibrator plateand eccentric Weights carried by said shaft.

3. A vibrator mechanism comprising steel support means including steelplate members extending horizontally in the normal operating position ofthe mechanism, said plate means having apertures, a steel pin for eachaperture, said pin having a shoulder resting on top of said aperturedplate and having an upwardly extending pin portion, a Washer of pressrubber disposed about the top portion of said pin, said rubber washerhaving a substantial thickness, a steel inverted cup-shaped memberdisposed about said rubber washer and resting on top thereof, saidinverted cup-shaped member and the free top end of said pin beingseparated by a distance which is substantially larger than any amplitudeof vibration, said inverted cup-shaped member having an upwardlyextending pin portion substantially larger in diameter than saidshouldered pin, a vibration plate having a plurality of ap rtures, eachaperture adapted to register with the 3,281,125 5 6 upwardly extendingpin portion of each inverted cup References Cited by the Examinermember, means for supporting the vibratory load on said UNITED STATESPATENTS vibration plate, and means including a shaft and eccentricweights supported from the bottom of said vibration plate 2555688 6/1951Flam 259 72 for creating vibration, said rubber washer functioning to 52,990,720 7/1961 Scholtes 259 72 suppress vibratory energy from goingdownwardly of said 2,996288 8/1961 Kavaflau et a1 259-72 rubber Washen3,146,997 9/1964 McKinney 259-72 4. The construction according to claim3 wherein said vibration plate has a plurality of support strips andsup- WALTER SCHEEL Primary Exammer' port blocks for accommodating theload to be vibrated. 10 R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A VIBRATOR MECHANISM FOR USE ON FORMS FOR CASTING CONCRETE SLABS,SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A RIGID STEEL BASE PLATE, A PLURALITY OFUPSTANDING STEEL SUPPORTS RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID BASE PLATE AND FORMINGA RIGID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING AT THE TOPTHEREOF A PLURALITY OF APERTURED STEEL PLATE PORTIONS, A VERTICAL STEELPIN FOR EACH APERTURE, EACH PIN HAVING A GUIDE PORTION EXTENDING ABOVETHE TOP OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A HEAVY WASHER OF NON-METALLICELASTIC VIBRATION ABSORBING MATERIAL DISPOSED ABOUT THE GUIDE PORTION OFEACH PIN AND RESTING ON TOP OF THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AN INVERTED CUPSHAPED STEEL MEMBER DISPOSED OVER THE TOP OF SAID HEAVY WASHER, SAIDINVERTED CUP SHAPED MEMBER HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PIN PORTION, ASTEEL VIBRATOR PLATE DISPOSED OVER THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID VIBRATORPLATE HAVING APERTURES EACH OF WHICH REGISTERS WITH THE UPWARDLYEXTENDING LAST NAMED PIN PORTION, MEANS ON THE TOP FACE OF SAID VIBRATORPLATE FOR RETAINING A CASTING FORM AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT IN NORMALVIBRATING POSITION AND MEANS SUPPORTED FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID VIBRATORPLATE FOR CREATING VIBRATIONS IN SAID PLATE, SAID HEAVY WASHERS SERVINGTO SUBSTANTIALLY SUPPRESS THE TRANSMISSION OF VIBRATORY ENERGY TO THESUPPORT STRUCTURE.